Around Town: NAMI hosts classes

The Nation's Voice on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host a 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe brain disorders (mental illness). Trained NAMI family members teach the course and all instruction and material are free.

The next class will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at 1960 P St. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday. For more information, call (209) 385-5314.

MERCED

Soccer is for kids

The city of Merced's Parks and Community Services, along with Kidz Love Soccer, will offer an instructional, noncompetitive soccer program for ages 2 to 12, on Thursdays, starting Sept. 25, at Rahilly Park.

Sessions last 8 weeks and cost $80. Shin guards are required. For more information, call (209)385-6298 or go to cityofmerced.org, or register at Parks and Community Services, 690 W. 16th St.

MERCED

Watercolors the Edin way

Rose Edin, a watercolorist, will come to Merced for a Oct. 6 to Oct. 10 workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St. A nonrefundable deposit of $100 is required and final payment is due Sept. 30. For more information, call (209) 388-1090.

MERCED

Weight loss unites group

Weight Watchers, a local weight loss support group, meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Mercy Medical Center Merced.

This support group is for people who have had bypass surgery or lap banding. For more information, call (209) 261-6333 or go to chocrecord@yahoo.com.

MERCED

City offering activities

The city of Merced's Park and Community Services is offering the following activities:

Instructional tennis-ages 3 to 18, $17-$27;

Capeoira -- ages 10 and up, $45;

Hunter safety and range instruction, $15l;

One stroke painting and beyond workshops -- adults only, $20 for workshop plus $10, supply fee;

Hula camp -- ages 3 and up, $180 for four months;

Safety drivers education (online) -- teens under 18, $55;

Uechi-Ryu Karate -- ages 6 and up, $45 per month;

Flag football -- ages 8 to14, $60;

Adult fall softball -- $500 per team;

MERCED

Give blood, get ice cream

Donate blood at the BloodSource Merced center or one of its mobile units through Sunday and receive a coupon for a free pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream. For locations, call (209) 724-0428 or go to bloodsource.org.

MERCED

Legal services are free

Central California Legal Services is a nonprofit agency that assists low-income persons free of charge. The firms is now taking walk-ins for people in need of a domestic violence restraining order. The office is at 357 W. Main St., Suite 201. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (209) 723-5466.

If you would like to have your event announced in the Around Town Column, send your information to Connie Hodges at least one week prior to the event, at chodges@mercedsunstar.com. Items run according to space available.